Hi,

Is anyone familiar with the organization "Bible Study Fellowship International"?

http://www.bsfinternational.org/

I was invited to attend a bible study promoted by this organization. Actually, I didn't know the Bible study was associated with organization until tonight when I attended the first meeting of the "new semester". They will be going through the book of Acts. After the meeting, I have to say I have a lot of doubts about what I heard there. It seems very legalistic. For example, they want you to commit to 15 minutes of Bible reading each day as well as to answer a set of questions each week for the next study. I agree that reading the Bible is important and we should read as much as we can, but I have my reservations about requiring someone to read so many minutes each day to participate in a Bible study. That seems like adding something to the Gospel. It puts up a barrier to people desiring Christian fellowship and learning. Plus it ignores the heart. Of course, I can buckle down and read my Bible 15 minutes a day if I want to, but if I'm only doing it to satisfy some requirement for a study, I'm not sure what the benefit is. As for the questions, if you don't actually write the answers to the questions down, then you will not be allowed to speak during the discussion.

In addition, what little theology I got doesn't seem very Christ-centered or Reformed. Their main focus seems to be equipping people for evangelism. One of the main points of the study will be "How to receive the Spirit". There were two others, but I can't remember and didn't write them down.

I was hoping that this would be an opportunity to learn from God's word and to fellowship with other Christians (in English), but I'm afraid that if I continue to go, I will be constantly in conflict with the theology that is being taught. I really, really want to be able to talk with other Christians (in English), but I'm not so sure I should get involved with this organization. I would appreciate any other information you might be able to point me to.

By the way, I found a couple of other web pages critiquing the BSF which I have only briefly glanced at.

http://watch.pair.com/bsf.html
http://watch.pair.com/Feldman.html


Thanks,
John